Ever since her sister had been forcibly sent out of the Cold Palace, Wen Zhiyi had fallen into complete despair. She was like a soulless walking corpse, barely going through the motions of living.
Perhaps because she was pregnant, Lu Ningrou no longer had the same control over her emotions as before. Seeing Wen Zhiyi looking utterly devastated, she couldn’t help laughing.
“You really are as good at putting on an act as ever.”
Wen Zhiyi shot her a sideways glance but said nothing.
“Enough. There isn’t anyone else here, so you don’t need to put on this miserable act in front of me.”
Wen Zhiyi opened her mouth, her voice hoarse.
“Is there really someone outside the palace waiting to receive my sister?”
“If she stayed in the Cold Palace, with barely any medicine or medical care, she would eventually die anyway. Why would I go to all the trouble of tricking her out of the palace just to kill her? Don’t you think?”
“You aren’t the kind of person who would suddenly show kindness to my sister and me. So why did you save my sister? Who exactly did you arrange to receive her outside the palace?”
Lu Ningrou’s expression immediately turned wary.
“That’s not something you need to ask about.”
Wen Zhiyi fell silent again.
Lu Ningrou paid no attention to what Wen Zhiyi might be feeling.
“Since I have already done what I promised and saved your sister, it’s time for you to fulfill your end of the bargain.”
Her voice was calm.
“You’ll take the blame for killing the imperial heir.”
Outside the Cold Palace, the guards had no idea what was happening inside. They continued chatting among themselves.
“If you ask me, Lady Zhaorong really is kind-hearted. She’s still concerned about the deposed Consort Wen inside.”
“I don’t know about that. Ever since the deposed Empress was carried out, that Wen woman hasn’t seemed quite right in the head. Now she’s alone in there with Lady Zhaorong. You don’t think something might happen, do you?”
“What could possibly happen? At worst, they’ll carry Wen out in a few days too.”
“Heh, I suppose you’re right…”
“Wait. What’s that noise inside?”
“What noise? Let me listen…”
“Eh? Sounds like they’re arguing.”
“Yeah, I hear it too.”
“Should we… go inside and take a look?”
“Maybe… just a quick look?”
The two guards had just reached for the door when another woman’s voice suddenly interrupted them.
“You two aren’t supposed to be standing around gossiping while you’re on duty. What are you doing?”
The guards hurriedly turned around.
Ning Wuyu was standing not far away, frowning at them. The woman who had spoken was her personal maid, Zipei, and a physician was standing beside them.
The two guards immediately bowed.
“Greetings, Lady Ning!”
Ning Wuyu had clearly heard the argument coming from inside as well. She strode forward.
“Who is inside?”
“Reporting to Lady Ning, it’s Lady Zhaorong and the deposed Consort Wen. They’re talking inside.”
“Lady Zhaorong?”
Ning Wuyu’s expression instantly hardened.
Without another word, she kicked open the door to the Cold Palace.
Everyone looked inside at once.
And at that exact moment, they saw Wen Zhiyi push Lu Ningrou.
Lu Ningrou lost her balance and let out a scream as she stumbled backward.
Unfortunately, directly behind her was a stone bench.
More precisely, it was positioned exactly where her belly would land.
If she struck it, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“Wen Zhiyi, you idiot!”
At the critical moment, Ning Wuyu lunged forward.
She caught Lu Ningrou firmly around the waist, and the two of them staggered backward several steps before finally regaining their balance.
Lu Ningrou’s expression stiffened.
“Lady Ning? Why are you here?”
Beyond the sight of the two women, the corners of Wen Zhiyi’s lips curved almost imperceptibly.
Ning Wuyu immediately examined Lu Ningrou from head to toe.
“Lady Zhaorong, did you hurt yourself anywhere? Zipei, quickly have Physician Zhang examine Lady Zhaorong!”
Lu Ningrou politely thanked her.
“Thank you for saving me, Lady Ning. I’m fine. I wasn’t seriously hurt.”
Ning Wuyu ignored her refusal and firmly pressed Lu Ningrou down onto a chair.
The physician who had accompanied her, Physician Zhang, immediately stepped forward.
“There’s no need to trouble the physician.”
Lu Ningrou repeatedly tried to refuse.
“Lady Ning came just in time. I wasn’t injured at all…”
Ning Wuyu cut her off.
“Lady Zhaorong is carrying an imperial heir. Even a scare is enough to cause concern. Let the physician examine you.”
“But ever since I became pregnant, I’ve always been under the care of Physician Lu, who is from the same clan as me. I’ll simply send someone to fetch him when I return to Yuexian Palace and have him check my pulse. There’s really no need to trouble Physician Zhang.”
“Lady Zhaorong doesn’t know?”
Zipei looked genuinely surprised.
“Physician Lu was thrown from a horse this morning and accidentally had one of his legs crushed beneath it. As the saying goes, injuries to the bones and tendons take a hundred days to heal. I’m afraid Physician Lu won’t be able to return to the Imperial Medical Academy for at least three months.”
“What?!”
Lu Ningrou’s mouth fell open in shock.
While she was still stunned, Physician Zhang had already finished taking her pulse.
He smiled and reported,
“Lady Zhaorong, please rest assured. The imperial heir is perfectly healthy.”
Yet there was not the slightest hint of relief on Lu Ningrou’s face.
Instead, her expression darkened slightly.
“Why did Lady Ning come all the way to the Cold Palace as well? And why did you happen to bring Physician Zhang with you?”
Ning Wuyu coldly glanced at Wen Zhiyi, who had remained silent.
Zipei stepped forward to explain.
“We heard that two days ago, His Majesty had the deposed Empress sent out of the palace because he was concerned about an outbreak of disease. So today, our mistress brought a physician here to see whether the deposed Consort Wen has also contracted it.”
Ning Wuyu immediately picked up the thread.
“If she has, then His Majesty won’t even need to give the order. I’ll personally have her beaten to death right here.”
She gave Wen Zhiyi a cold look.
“That way, she won’t have the chance to cause trouble throughout the imperial harem.”
Wen Zhiyi merely let out a soft laugh.
She turned casually toward Ning Wuyu.
“Thank you for your concern, Lady Ning.”
Lu Ningrou gradually regained her composure.
She stood up and prepared to leave.
“Thank you for stepping in today, Lady Ning. Since there’s nothing else wrong, I’ll return to Yuexian Palace first.”
“Lady Zhaorong, please wait.”
Lu Ningrou frowned slightly.
“Is there something else, Lady Ning?”
Ning Wuyu slowly met Lu Ningrou’s increasingly uneasy gaze.
Then, suddenly, she smiled brightly.
Her expression looked almost genuinely concerned.
“Physician Lu and Lady Zhaorong belong to the same clan, so naturally he would take excellent care of you.”
“What a coincidence, Physician Zhang also happens to have an old connection with my maternal family.”
She paused.
“Yet when Physician Zhang examined you just now, he noticed signs of some old health problems.”
“Lady Zhaorong should take care of yourself properly from now on.”
Lu Ningrou’s expression darkened completely.
Ning Wuyu continued.
“Physician Zhang’s medical skills are widely respected throughout the Imperial Medical Academy. He is in no way inferior to Physician Lu.”
“Since Physician Lu will be recovering for the next three months, why not let Physician Zhang take over your care during that time?”
“What do you think, Lady Zhaorong?”
Lu Ningrou remained silent for a long time.
Ning Wuyu’s smile slowly faded.
“Could it be that Lady Zhaorong doesn’t trust me?”
“How could that be?”
Lu Ningrou forced a smile onto her face.
“Lady Ning has gone to such trouble for me. I’m deeply grateful.”
“There’s no need to be so formal. We’re sisters, after all.”
Ning Wuyu warmly took Lu Ningrou’s hand.
But the meaning hidden in her eyes was anything but warm.
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Lady Zhaorong has always been known for her kindness. Surely you wouldn’t want His Majesty to hear about what happened today and worry unnecessarily over such an unpleasant incident.”
“Why don’t I personally report the deposed consort’s violent actions to His Majesty on your behalf?”
She smiled sweetly.
“That way, Lady Zhaorong can receive the justice she deserves.”
“How does that sound?”